As a big fan of horror movies, I was eager to see "Aterrados," having heard positive things, which was surprising considering Argentinian horror films don't usually get great reviews (and often for good reason). Anticipation can sometimes lead to disappointment, and despite my best efforts to approach the film with an open mind, I ended up feeling somewhat let down. "Aterrados" presents a series of supernatural occurrences in the suburbs of an unnamed town near Buenos Aires. The unsettling events begin when a young couple discovers their home is being invaded by an unseen presence, leading to a violent attack and the woman’s death; her husband is then blamed. Elsewhere, a boy tragically dies after being struck by a bus, only to reappear as a decaying corpse. A young man seeks professional help due to nightly visits from a ghostly figure. A police officer, a sheriff, and two paranormal investigators are brought in to investigate these strange incidents, which all occurred in different locations within the same neighborhood—a clear indication that something unusual is happening. "Aterrados" demonstrates an effort to deliver a quality product, which is commendable given its limited budget. However, writer and director Demián Rugna doesn't manage to connect all the narrative threads of what initially seems like it will be a complex story. While the latter half features some disturbing visuals and surprisingly well-done special effects, the plot unravels due to a lack of clear explanations for the paranormal events unfolding in this area. The only explanation offered by one of the investigators is simplistic and unconvincing: apparently, water plays a role (which seems odd). According to him, water contains microorganisms that sustain life and can link the realms of the living and the dead. Beyond that, we don't learn much about the nature or motivations of these supernatural entities; it’s mentioned they crave blood, suggesting a vampire-like quality. Ultimately, the explanations are unsatisfactory. Is there a single force responsible for everything? In most supernatural horror films, there is a central antagonist targeting a specific person or family; but in "Aterrados," multiple forces seem to be attacking unrelated individuals, creating a confusing outcome. I would have preferred even a predictable explanation over nothing at all. It wouldn't have been difficult: perhaps someone was wronged and died, and their spirit now torments the living as revenge (a simple concept). The characters are largely forgettable. Our main character—who doesn’t appear until about 25 minutes in—is uninteresting and hard to connect with. His backstory is revealed late in the film, but it's difficult to become invested in him, not only because he's a generic police officer in a horror movie, but also because he shares leadership duties with the other three equally bland characters. I can excuse the low budget, amateurish dialogue, and uninspired locations, but the story needs to make sense. While some directors succeed by creating an immersive atmosphere that compensates for a messy plot, Rugna doesn’t achieve this. A Fulci film might rely on stylish cinematography to cover up a weak storyline; Rugna can't do that here. Despite my disappointment, "Aterrados" isn't terrible and generally manages to avoid unintentional comedy. Director Rugna shows promise in creating genuinely tense and disturbing moments, which are essential for a horror movie. The unsettling imagery, good photography, and solid camerawork make it worth watching at least once. Some people claim this is the best Argentinian horror film (and truthfully, there isn't much competition), and I’ve noticed Hispanic horror fans seem particularly enthusiastic about it. This gives me hope that Argentina will produce more horror films in the future—hopefully they will be an improvement on this one.

Source on TMDB